Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Ehrmann Chocolate Creme Grand Dessert

[New to the U.S. for 2016] Ok, time for something non-frozen tonight, but it's still chilly and it's still dairy. I've been trying to watch the blogging budget but this cup just kept calling to me. "I'm -only- a dollar seventy-nine and I look so fancy, you know you want to try me". What, you don't have voices in your head telling you what to eat as you wander aimlessly through a grocery store?

Ehrmann Chocolate Creme Grand Dessert

chocolate creme with whipped creme

They call it a "Premium European Dessert" and it really does look European. Now while Ehrmann looks German (apologies for rhyming), it actually says Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy, LLC of Brattleboro, Vermont on the back, but wait a second, Ehrmann AG is one of the top milk processors in Germany! They do have divisions here in the states though. It looks like this product is starting out in New England and the tri-state area at Shaws, Star Market, Wegmans, and Price Chopper (which is where I found it).

It may have been prettier before the rough ride home. It says "real whipped cream" on the cover and it definitely tastes that way. --- Ha, the instagram marketing photo here shows a non-smushed topped... and claims that grand dessert is better than ice cream. That's a bold claim Ehrmann, let's see if you can back it up!

I take a bite, and then several more, and it tastes like chocolate pudding with whipped cream. It's a lighter pudding than say Jell-o or the stuff you might find at a buffet. I can't say I really like the light whipped cream with the pudding texture. It winds up amping up that watered down vibe of the pudding. It just doesn't have that hearty, filling texture that you kind of expect with a pudding.

Let me put it another way. I adore chocolate cream pie. It's amazing when done right, but it needs that heavy, dairy heft to it. This reminds me of those chocolate cream pies that are more solid water than cream.

I hope that makes sense, but if not, I will put it this final way. This was not worth $1.79. Ninety-nine cents? Sure. Is this better than a jell-o pudding snack? Sure. It's a lot cleaner (less complicated) than a pudding snack, so it breaks down easier on your tastebuds. That said, is this four times better than a jell-o pudding snack? No.

Before anyone asks, yes, I just mixed up the last of the whipped cream and pudding together to see if it tastes better that way. It's not bad, but I'm still surprised it's not heavier at this price point. Maybe I shouldn't expect pie in a pudding cup?

Pop Quiz: Since there won't be a second scoop (because I ate all of it already), let's do a pop quiz. The Ehrman website says this product comes in a bunch of flavors, so which would you try first? The U.S. is starting with Vanilla, Chocolate, Double Chocolate, and Cafe au Lait, but other parts of the world also have Double Toffee, Double Coffee, Vanilla Choco Top, Chocolate Noir, Dark Chocolate Orange, Chocolate & Mint, Stracciatella, Semonlina Pudding (like rice pudding?), and Grand Dessert Raffinesse (has two flavors of whipped cream).

Verdict? not badBuy Again? nah (but maybe another flavor if it was on sale)

I think that they should added cookie crumbles or a cake layer. Like those KFC little bucket parfaits. I miss the little bucket parfaits! These were the best and I don't get why KFC stopped selling these?!

That's lame that the United States doesn't have Double Toffee or Semonlina Pudding, they both sound amazing! Because we're lagging behind here and don't have either of those, I probably won't be trying this :P

Dude, I seriously hate you right now, lol. I haven't lived in Germany in 30 years, but every time I go back to visit this is about the first thing I go to the store for. Granted, Ehrmann is only one of several varieties, some better, some slightly worse, but I still crave them, even at 40. As for your pop quiz question. The Vanilla's are generally my favorites, and Straciatella is obviously good too. Looks like they've certainly come up with a lot of new flavors since the last time I was there (2008).

No, texture is pretty much the same across the board, but we like it better that way. Obviously, I'd have to taste the specific product you had to compare to the ones in Germany, but I know I've always preferred German pudding desserts over American pudding.

I ate these as a treat all the time in Moscow! I wish they will come to my USA fridge soon. Semolina pudding is literally cream of wheat, btw, but as a sweet, creamy pudding, not just straight up creams of wheats porridge.

Living in Germany, I'm shocked about the US-price, especially as it is not imported but made in the US. Here it costs not more than 0,79€, that is about 0.90$...sometimes a lot less! It is considered an everyday-dessert and the coffee flavour is really good.

For a European it is really funny to read 'Premium European Dessert' on an Ehrmanns product...No way it is considered to be 'premium' here, it's fine but def not worth more than 1$. Nice try Ehrmann ; )